Reports of a haunted house soon have amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin snooping around, only to discover the victim of the haunting is a universally disliked old biddy on whom someone is playing a practical joke. But then the old lady is murdered and, for Agatha, solving a crime is much more fun than ghost-busting. Very soon she’s up to her usual tricks, involving the villagers, local police, and, naturally, her handsome new neighbor.

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Reports of a haunted house soon have amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin snooping around, only to discover the victim of the haunting is a universally disliked old biddy on whom someone is playing a practical joke. But then the old lady is murdered and, for Agatha, solving a crime is much more fun than ghost-busting. Very soon she’s up to her usual tricks, involving the villagers, local police, and, naturally, her handsome new neighbor.

I am actually reviewing the Agatha Raisin series. It seems a bit silly to review each one individually. If you love The Walkers of Dembley you will probably love The Haunted House and the Curious Curate and so forth. If you hate the first one you read, you will probably hate the rest. Kind of like Doctor Who. Either you "get it" or you don't.

Now I realize that Agatha Raisin books are nobody's idea of high literature but for what they are, they are the best. I have read a lot of British cozies and I always return to Agatha. We are "of an age" Agatha and I, which is part of the appeal as I really love finding books about people really LIVING and enjoying life after 45 or 50 years old. The world of love and adventure are not exclusively for the young. And Agatha is so wonderfully and chronically imperfect. If the stars of the British cozy world have one major drawback it is that they are all ultimately so very, very good. Not our Agatha, by golly. She is vain and self-centered and insecure. You know, those pesky human conditions. Sometimes you just want to shake her but you should probably go look in the mirror first.

The setting of the Agatha books is another reason I come back again and again. The little villages in the Cotswolds are such a perfect place to set a cozy. Surely one little village wouldn't really experience quite so many dead bodies but this is serial mystery, not classic literature. If I could retire to one of those little villages and live in Agatha's cottage, I would do it in a heartbeat even if I had to cook for her cats, eat tv dinners and put up with James Lacy as a neighbor. Well, I might not eat the tv dinners, but still.

Penelope Keith does a really wonderful job of bringing the offbeat and often hilarious cast of characters to life. Generally, a woman narrator speaking for a man makes me want to stab my ears but Penelope actually pulls it off. I gave this narrator 5 stars even though I was afraid she was doomed from the start. You see I read a LOT of Agatha Raisin books in print before listening to any and I had Agatha's voice firmly in my head already as Judi Dench. But it didn't take long at all for Ms Keith to pull me in.

I love Agatha Raisin! She makes life in the country seem very exciting and she's always up to something. This time Agatha and her new neighbour, Paul, are investigating a haunted house. When the mean old lady that owns the house ends up dead, Agatha and Paul are sure it is murder and start to investigate.

Agatha has such spirit, but she is also a romantic and looks to Paul to be her next love. Of course Paul is married and is just toying with her. She deserves so much better, and I was happy to see Sir Charles Fraith also get in on the action too. When it comes to her love life I know she is not suited for James Lacey and I hope maybe Sir Charles will continue to be in her life.

Romance aside this was a really fun mystery, that delved into the history of the Cotswold. Agatha continues to bumble along until she has the case solved and her never-ending spirit and determination kept me interested.

I love Penelope Keith's narration. She's one of my favorite narrators and the true voice of Agatha Raisin. I'm looking forward to picking up the next Agatha Raisin mystery.

I have persisted on reading this series for one reason, Penelope Keith. I love her narration, and she brings her acting skills to bear with wonderful results. M.C. Beaton's books are simple and comfortable read. It took a while for me to get over the teenage reactions of Agatha raisin, but the author has done a good job explaining her behavior through Mrs. Blocksby.

What did you like best about this story?

I am finally starting to enjoy Agatha Raisin's crazy lovesick antics, and can actually laugh. I used to get so annoyed, and avoided all the books that were based off her love life.

What aspect of Penelope Keith’s performance would you have changed?

Every aspect of Penelope Keith's performance is divine. I have stuck to this books just to hear her read.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it does not require a lot of concentration.

Any additional comments?

I am not sure I like M.C Beaton's take on battered women, there is definitely a pattern through both her series. In both her Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth books, she always makes them out to be people who like to be victimized, and without hope. To be exact I am not sure I like her take on women as a whole, she tends to make them very silly, and her habit of love cross lovers is getting old, but I love Penelope Keith. So, as long as she is reading I will be listening.

I have to mention that I adore Agatha Raisin, so perhaps I am less critical than I should be. But there is something about this irascible, middle-aged, vain and silly character that won my heart from the beginning. I guess it's Agatha's extremely flawed character that makes her so lovable. That, and the fact that she really does mean well. Mostly.

Anyway, the "Haunted House" is a fun and typical Agatha mystery, and I loved it. The narration is excellent.

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